Newsroom

September 23, 2016

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), founded in 1975, represents 15 West African member states. Its mission is to promote economic integration in "all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters." ECOWAS undertakes an extensive range of work to coordinate policies, standards and systems across West Africa. USAID’s partnership with ECOWAS aligns with the aims of the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future: supporting local countries to develop their own agriculture sectors to generate opportunities for economic growth and trade.

Millions of women in Africa find employment in the shea industry
August 26, 2016

The Global Shea Alliance (GSA) African Cosmetics Exhibition (ACE) showcases African artisanal brands producing high-quality shea-based products.  The annual event has connected 40 cosmetic companies with 1500+ buyers.  This year the GSA in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development and Technoserve will sponsor 36 GSA member organizations (listed below) to attend the ProBeauty trade show in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 28th –29th and trade + impact in Ifrane, Morocco on September 19th– 23rd.

August 26, 2016

The Cameroon Peace Promotion Project is a two-year, $2.5 million initiative to strengthen community cohesion in the conflict-affected North and Far North regions of the country. The project will utilize radio programming and community engagement to improve access to factual information, reinforce community values of peace and tolerance, support moderate voices to mitigate extremist rhetoric, and promote dialogue in vulnerable communities on themes related to conflict

August 17, 2016

Cotton is a key livelihood source for many farmers in West Africa, with the region representing one of the most important sources of cotton exports in the world.  In the “C-4” countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali), cotton provides 3 percent to 10 percent of the national gross domestic product. Grown in rotation with cereals and legumes, cotton represents the primary source of income for many farmers in a region characterized by food insecurity. The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Cotton Competitiveness (UCC) Activity is a new partnership that aims to address these challenges.

July 14, 2016

Accra, Ghana – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) today announced a five-year program, SERVIR West Africa. This program will promote the use of satellite imagery to help improve the West Africa region’s resilience, to lessen negative impacts of climate change, to ensure that land use management is sustainable, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the onset of this program, West Africa becomes part of the Global SERVIR network, which includes Eastern and Southern Africa, the Hindu-Kush Himalaya region, and the Mekong River Basin.

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